Columbus became the center of the zoological world on Dec. 22, 1956, when Christina, a 280-pound
gorilla captured in the French Cameroons, gave birth to the first gorilla in the world to be born
in captivity.

Ohio State University veterinary student Dean Thomas discovered the 3-pound, 4-ounce newborn,
still in its embryonic sac, in the Columbus Zoo’s Ape House at 8:40 a.m. Thomas cut little Colo’s
umbilical cord, breathed into the rare animal’s mouth to start respiration and quickly transferred
her to a human incubator.

“We’re just treating it like a human baby, and I’m pestering all my doctor friends for
suggestions. If she can go four days, I think we’ll have it made,” Davis said.

Mayor M.E. “Jack” Sensen-brenner passed out cigars that said “It’s a Girl.” Zoo officials from
around the world telephoned congratulations and even suggested a baby shower.

That infant celebrates her 56th birthday today. Colo is the oldest gorilla in any zoo
anywhere.

She was named for Columbus (Col) Ohio (o) in a children’s contest. Davis said, “They’re the ones
who will enjoy it, and besides, they think up better names than adults do.”

Colo was the foundation for the world’s captive-breeding program for the endangered Western
Lowland gorilla. Most of the gorillas in zoos today were born in captivity.

A grandmother since 1979, Colo had the first of her three offspring in 1968, a female named Emmy
after Sensen-brenner.

Since 1956, 35 gorillas have been born at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, which currently houses
15 of the primates in three groups. Colo, by choice, lives alone, but she occasionally is visited
by her daughter. Though captive breeding programs have been successful, the animals are endangered
in the wild.